Separation of church and state already has begun in the Tibetan administration. The Dalai Lama and Samdhong Rinpoche has stepped down and the replacing Kalon Tripa is a lay person. Whatever has been said and done by Samdong Rinpoche does not really matter anymore. His words and idealism belongs to the archaic system of old Tibet when the Dalai was still in power.
However, the Dalai Lama is no longer in power and although he may still be the real power behind the scenes, the very fact that he has retired from office is a progress forward in the separation of church and state. The political structure of Tibet and its theocratic system cannot be revamped over night. Even if the Dalai Lama rules it as such, the Tibetan people may not be able to accept it as such. What the Dalai Lama is doing is a skillful handling of power over to a secular government. Therefore, Samdong Rinpoche with his spotless devotion to his Lama would be left within the confines of monasticism.
